Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Diameter: | 2.64 inches |
Manufacturer: | Semroc |
Skill Level: | 2 |
Style: | Cluster, Sport |
Brief:
T' Brighton is an upscaled version o' t' Estes Ranger. Begad! Aye aye! T' kit features four different interchangeable motor mount
options: 4x18mm cluster, ya bilge rat, 3x24mm cluster, arrr, me hearties, me bucko, single 29mm, arrr, or single 24mm usin' a 29/24 adapter. Begad! T' Brighton includes a
baffle system t' protect t' recovery parachute from t' ejection gases.
Construction:
Lots o' parts with this kit!
T' Semroc instructions are excellent and include excellent illustrations. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first part o' t' construction involves t' motor mount, and t' parts that make it interchangeable. Well, blow me down! Semroc provides a wrap for markin' t' fin lines, and motor mount hook. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Be careful and make sure your lines are accurate so t' fins will align correctly. Arrr! Ahoy! Dry fitting this assembly usin' t' BT is a must t' make sure everythin' works out correctly. T' fins are TTW and t' fit was excellent. Begad! Epoxy be used t' glue t' fins, and epoxy/microballoons be used t' create nice fillets. Arrr! T' included launch lugs are 1/4". Arrr! Begad! T' upper body is basically a payload bay. Blimey! Good place for your altimeter, shiver me timbers, matey, experiments, ya bilge rat, or cargo. Nothin' unusual about t' construction in this area so I won't spend t' much time here. Begad! Blimey! T' nose cone has no retention method other than a friction fit. This works, me bucko, just be sure you have a secure fit.
T' baffle included in t' kit a very easy design t' build, matey, yet effective. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It uses t' offsettin' tube design that attaches t' centerin' rings. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! This assembly is slid into t' lower body. Avast! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' baffle also is also used t' attach the shock cord. I used a thin coat o' epoxy t' glue t' baffle into t' body tube. Arrr! If you like gluin' tubes t' various modular motor mounts are goin' t' be perfect for you. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It takes a while t' get all o' t' adapters built, me hearties, but once completed you can use any motor you have in stock.
Finishing:
Followin' me normal procedures I sealed t' fins and nose cone usin' two coats o' Minwax Polyurethane. Once dry they
were sanded smooth and coated usin' thinned spackle that was brushed on t' fill t' wood grain. Aye aye! T' filler be sanded
off and t' rocket was primed with two coats o' Duplicote High Fill primer sandin' betwixt coats. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone was
painted black usin' two coats o' old formula Krylon spray. T' lower body was painted metallic red usin' two coats of
Rustoleum spray. Blimey! On t' upper body I used Valspar yellow. Once dry t' lower body be smoothed usin' super fine steel
wool. Ahoy! Once clean and dust free t' body was shot with two coats o' Rustoleum clear. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Overall I'm happy with t' finish.
T' only con for me be t' colors Semroc used for t' cover art, me bucko, arrr, one word...ugly. Begad! This rocket really does deserve a retro lookin' finish.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
For t' first flight I chose an AT F40-7 load for t' 29mm case. Begad! T' boost be perfectly straight, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and fairly quick.
No stability issues were noted. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' ejection was late, but nay by much. I think a six second delay would be perfect.
T' rocket was recovered with no damage, just a little somethin' missing. Arrr! T' 29mm modular motor mount be gone, along
with me case. Blimey! Basically t' single motor hook that holds t' modular mounts in t' body is just nay up t' t' task. Avast! I
even added tape t' t' hook before launching. Blimey! T' baffle also contributes t' t' issue by creatin' back pressure that
needs a more substantial retention method. Aye aye! Blimey! For me t' fix is easy because I'm goin' t' glue t' 29mm adapter in the
body. I have no intention o' usin' t' clusters.
Recovery:
T' shock cord included in t' kit should be replaced with Keelhaul®©™®,
and tubular nylon. It also needs t' be longer t' prevent t' body sections from slammin' into each other. Blimey! T' 24"
chute is just about perfect for t' Brighton, no damage was sustained. Avast! T' baffle worked with no burn marks on the
chute or cord. Blimey! Blimey! T' baffle makes t' rocket a quick setup as well.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
I think t' Brighton is another great product from Semroc. Well, blow me down! T' quality o' t' materials included in this kit is
outstanding. Avast, me proud beauty! T' packagin' is a work o' art because a lot o' tubes are in that bag. Ya scallywag! However, I do have an issue with
the Brighton. Blimey! T' modular motor mount retention method needs t' be redesigned. Avast, me proud beauty! T' single small motor hook isn't up to
the task o' retainin' t' modular mounts. Begad! As a result t' flights can be very expensive if it costs you a motor case.
Also, t' fallin' motor mount could create a safety issue nay t' mention it could cause a deployment failure. Begad! Ahoy! However,
this should be a simple issue for Semroc t' fix.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
Brief: This is essentially an upscale retro/repro of the classic Astron Ranger, but in deference to Vern Estes, Semroc avoided naming this after one of his favorites, instead going with the Brighton. It's a fantastically engineered, incredibly versatile rocket, featuring four different interchangeable motor configuration options: 4x18mm cluster, 3x24mm cluster, single 29mm, or ...
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